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Karl Faberge – incomparable genius

Karl Faberge (May 30, 1846 in St. Petersburg, Russia – September 24, 1920) was a Russian jeweler, best known for the famous Imperial Easter eggs or Faberge eggs, made of precious metals and gemstones.

Monument to Carl Faberge in front of a jewelry company in St. Petersburg

Last photo of Carl Faberge. July 1920, Lausanne, Switzerland

3 biggest collections of Faberge eggs

The Armoury Chamber, Moscow

This museum, the treasure of the Moscow Kremlin, has many valuable items, among which there are ten Faberge eggs. This is the highest number of Faberge eggs in Russian museums. Each Faberge egg has its own name and unique appearance. The oldest egg, Memory of Azov, was made in 1891 for Tsar Alexander III. There is a frigate model inside the Jade egg. Another well-known masterpiece is Trans-Siberian Railway Egg, with the train in it. The most interesting is the egg made for the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. There is a Globe with outlines of the Russian Empire inside and the egg is decorated with miniature portraits of the royal family.

The Vekselberg’s fund owns the world’s largest collection of Faberge eggs. Victor had done the impossible thing: he bought a collection of Faberge eggs in the U.S. and brought them back to their homeland. The first exhibition “Faberge: Lost and Found ” was held in the Kremlin in 2004. The oldest of the famous Faberge eggs – “Chicken” (1885), is also in this collection.

Chicken

Art Museum of Virginia, Richmond, United States

There are five Faberge eggs in the museum. The oldest of them is “Egg with rotating thumbnail” (1896). This egg is made of rock crystal, has 12 miniatures with memorable for the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna places.

Egg with rotating thumbnail

Here are the best works of a great genius.

Imperial Faberge Eggs

1. “Imperial Coronation Egg” – is the most expensive Faberge Easter egg, Nicholas II’s gift to his wife Alexandra. It is made of gold, platinum, diamonds and rubies.

Coronation egg

Imperial Coronation Egg

2. “Orange Tree Egg” – is the egg, which is also called the “Bay Tree”. It was made special for Nicholas II as an Easter gift for his mother. It is made of diamonds, rubies and jade, as well as pearls and onyx. This work resembles a tree with fruits and flowers.

Orange Tree Egg

3. “Renaissance” egg was the last Emperor Alexander’s Easter gift to his wife Marina Fedorova. It is made of enamel of various colors, as well as gold, diamonds and rubies.

Renaissance egg

4. “Blue Serpent Clock Egg“, as the previous one, was Emperor Alexander’s present for his beloved wife. It is made of transparent blue and white enamel with diamonds.

Blue Serpent Clock Egg

5. “Kelekh’s Hen” is a composition, which includes the egg, the hen and miniature easel with the portrait of the Crown Prince Alexei.

Kelekh’s hen

6. “Pansy” is an egg made by Faberge for the royal family, which Nicholas II presented to his mother. The egg is made of green enamel and the flowers made of gold and jade.

Pansy egg

7. “Gatchina Palace” – is an egg with a miniature palace inside. The egg decorated with gold leaves and roses with red lines.

Gatchina Palace egg

8. “Rothschild Egg” is one of the most expensive eggs made by Faberge. For a long time the Rothschild family was the owner of the masterpiece. The egg is made of gold, platinum, pearls and pink and white enamel.

Rothschild Egg

9. “Rose Trellis egg” is made of gold enamel and diamonds.

Rose Trellis egg

10. “Alexander Palace” egg was an Easter gift to Alexandra. It is made of gold, diamonds, rock crystal, glass, wood and decorated with portraits of Nicholas II.

Alexander Palace egg

11. “Standart Yacht Egg” is made of gold and silver, as well as diamonds, pearls and rock crystal.

Standart Yacht Egg

12. “Alexander III Equestrian Egg” was made as a gift for the Emperor’s mother. It is a transparent egg with a statue inside.

Alexander III Equestrian Egg

13. “Catherine the Great Egg” is also called Grisaille Egg, or Pink Cameo Egg. This work is in the Hillwood Museum of the United States.

Catherine the Great Egg

14. “Mosaic egg” was presented to Alexandra Fyodorvna by Nicholas. The egg is made of almost all the precious stones and metals. It was a surprise for the Empress.